The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership history
The Deseret Morning News LDS Church Almanac gives information on historical membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The church's reported membership as of December 31, 2015 was 15,634,199.[1] The growth of 1.7% in 2015 is the lowest percentage growth since 1937.[2]
Growth and demographic history
The records of the LDS Church show membership growth every decade since its beginning in the 1830s. Following initial growth rates that averaged 10% to 25% per year in the 1830s through 1850s, it grew at about 4% per year through the last four decades of the 19th century (the Utah polygamy years). After a steady slowing of growth in the first four decades of the 20th century to a rate of about 2% per year in the 1930s (the Great Depression years), growth boomed to an average of 6% per year for the decade around 1960, staying around 4% to 5% through 1990. After 1990, average annual growth again slowed steadily to a rate around 2.2% for the ten years ending 2015, approximately double the average world population growth rate of 1.1% for the same period.
LDS Church membership numbers
LDS Church Growth From 1829 to 1860
Table for recent growth
World population numbers as of April 4, 2015.[3] [4]
Year | LDS church growth rate | World growth rate |
---|---|---|
1950 | 3.03% | 1.47% |
1951 | 3.23% | 1.61% |
1952 | 3.65% | 1.71% |
1953 | 4.82% | 1.78% |
1954 | 4.48% | 1.87% |
1955 | 4.23% | 1.89% |
1956 | 4.38% | 1.96% |
1957 | 5.05% | 1.94% |
1958 | 4.53% | 1.77% |
1959 | 3.88% | 1.40% |
1960 | 4.77% | 1.34% |
1961 | 7.71% | 1.81% |
1962 | 7.79% | 2.20% |
1963 | 7.72% | 2.20% |
1964 | 5.55% | 2.09% |
1965 | 7.20% | 2.08% |
1966 | 3.55% | 2.03% |
1967 | 5.38% | 2.04% |
1968 | 2.67% | 2.08% |
1969 | 4.60% | 2.05% |
1970 | 4.39% | 2.07% |
1971 | 5.46% | 1.99% |
1972 | 4.14% | 1.94% |
1973 | 2.73% | 1.88% |
1974 | 3.12% | 1.79% |
1975 | 4.76% | 1.72% |
1976 | 4.77% | 1.71% |
1977 | 6.05% | 1.68% |
1978 | 4.98% | 1.71% |
1979 | 5.69% | 1.70% |
1980 | 5.35% | 1.70% |
1981 | 6.05% | 1.75% |
1982 | 4.92% | 1.76% |
1983 | 3.66% | 1.70% |
1984 | 5.41% | 1.69% |
1985 | 4.94% | 1.71% |
1986 | 4.18% | 1.74% |
1987 | 3.69% | 1.72% |
1988 | 5.11% | 1.69% |
1989 | 8.74% | 1.68% |
1990 | 6.19% | 1.57% |
1991 | 4.23% | 1.55% |
1992 | 3.88% | 1.50% |
1993 | 3.39% | 1.45% |
1994 | 3.86% | 1.44% |
1995 | 3.48% | 1.41% |
1996 | 3.79% | 1.38% |
1997 | 3.91% | 1.34% |
1998 | 2.80% | 1.31% |
1999 | 3.85% | 1.28% |
2000 | 2.94% | 1.26% |
2001 | 2.94% | 1.23% |
2002 | 2.87% | 1.21% |
2003 | 2.25% | 1.21% |
2004 | 2.42% | 1.20% |
2005 | 2.32% | 1.19% |
2006 | 2.45% | 1.18% |
2007 | 2.52% | 1.18% |
2008 | 2.38% | 1.17% |
2009 | 2.34% | 1.15% |
2010 | 2.22% | 1.13% |
2011 | 2.19% | 1.11% |
2012 | 2.31% | 1.11% |
2013 | 2.03% | 1.09% |
2014 | 1.92% | 1.08% |
2015 | 1.70% | 1.08% |
Table for LDS Church membership numbers
Year | Membership | Number change | Percentage growth |
---|---|---|---|
1829 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
1830 | 280 | 274 | 4566.67% |
1831 | 680 | 400 | 142.86% |
1832 | 2,661 | 1,981 | 291.32% |
1833 | 3,140 | 479 | 18.00% |
1834 | 4,372 | 1,232 | 39.24% |
1835 | 8,835 | 4,463 | 102.08% |
1836 | 13,293 | 4,458 | 50.46% |
1837 | 16,282 | 2,989 | 22.49% |
1838 | 17,881 | 1,599 | 9.82% |
1839 | 16,460 | -1,421 | -7.95% |
1840 | 16,865 | 405 | 2.46% |
1841 | 19,856 | 2,991 | 17.73% |
1842 | 23,564 | 3,708 | 18.67% |
1843 | 25,980 | 2,416 | 10.25% |
1844 | 26,146 | 166 | 0.64% |
1845 | 30,332 | 4,186 | 16.01% |
1846 | 33,993 | 3,661 | 12.07% |
1847 | 34,694 | 701 | 2.06% |
1848 | 40,477 | 5,783 | 16.67% |
1849 | 48,160 | 7,683 | 18.98% |
1850 | 51,839 | 3,679 | 7.64% |
1851 | 52,165 | 326 | 0.63% |
1852 | 52,640 | 475 | 0.91% |
1853 | 64,154 | 11,514 | 21.87% |
1854 | 68,429 | 4,275 | 6.66% |
1855 | 63,974 | -4,455 | -6.51% |
1856 | 63,881 | -93 | -0.15% |
1857 | 55,236 | -8,645 | -13.53% |
1858 | 55,755 | 519 | 0.94% |
1859 | 57,038 | 1,283 | 2.30% |
1860 | 61,082 | 4,044 | 7.09% |
1861 | 66,211 | 5,129 | 8.40% |
1862 | 68,780 | 2,569 | 3.88% |
1863 | 71,770 | 2,990 | 4.35% |
1864 | 74,348 | 2,578 | 3.59% |
1865 | 76,771 | 2,423 | 3.26% |
1866 | 77,884 | 1,113 | 1.45% |
1867 | 81,124 | 3,240 | 4.16% |
1868 | 84,622 | 3,498 | 4.31% |
1869 | 88,432 | 3,810 | 4.50% |
1870 | 90,130 | 1,698 | 1.92% |
1871 | 95,596 | 5,466 | 6.06% |
1872 | 98,152 | 2,556 | 2.67% |
1873 | 101,538 | 3,386 | 3.45% |
1874 | 103,916 | 2,378 | 2.34% |
1875 | 107,167 | 3,251 | 3.13% |
1876 | 111,111 | 3,944 | 3.68% |
1877 | 115,065 | 3,954 | 3.56% |
1878 | 125,046 | 9,981 | 8.67% |
1879 | 128,386 | 3,340 | 2.67% |
1880 | 133,628 | 5,242 | 4.08% |
1881 | 140,733 | 7,105 | 5.32% |
1882 | 145,604 | 4,871 | 3.46% |
1883 | 151,593 | 5,989 | 4.11% |
1884 | 158,242 | 6,649 | 4.39% |
1885 | 164,130 | 5,888 | 3.72% |
1886 | 166,653 | 2,523 | 1.54% |
1887 | 173,029 | 6,376 | 3.83% |
1888 | 180,294 | 7,265 | 4.20% |
1889 | 183,144 | 2,850 | 1.58% |
1890 | 188,263 | 5,119 | 2.80% |
1891 | 195,445 | 7,182 | 3.81% |
1892 | 200,961 | 5,516 | 2.82% |
1893 | 214,534 | 13,573 | 6.75% |
1894 | 222,369 | 7,835 | 3.65% |
1895 | 231,116 | 8,747 | 3.93% |
1896 | 241,427 | 10,311 | 4.46% |
1897 | 255,736 | 14,309 | 5.93% |
1898 | 267,251 | 11,515 | 4.50% |
1899 | 271,681 | 4,430 | 1.66% |
1900 | 283,765 | 12,084 | 4.45% |
1901 | 292,931 | 9,166 | 3.23% |
1902 | 299,105 | 6,174 | 2.11% |
1903 | 304,901 | 5,796 | 1.94% |
1904 | 324,289 | 19,388 | 6.36% |
1905 | 332,048 | 7,759 | 2.39% |
1906 | 345,014 | 12,966 | 3.90% |
1907 | 357,913 | 12,899 | 3.74% |
1908 | 371,472 | 13,559 | 3.79% |
1909 | 377,279 | 5,807 | 1.56% |
1910 | 398,478 | 21,199 | 5.62% |
1911 | 407,291 | 8,813 | 2.21% |
1912 | 417,555 | 10,264 | 2.52% |
1913 | 431,607 | 14,052 | 3.37% |
1914 | 454,718 | 23,111 | 5.35% |
1915 | 466,238 | 11,520 | 2.53% |
1916 | 477,321 | 11,083 | 2.38% |
1917 | 488,038 | 10,717 | 2.25% |
1918 | 495,962 | 7,924 | 1.62% |
1919 | 507,961 | 11,999 | 2.42% |
1920 | 525,987 | 18,026 | 3.55% |
1921 | 548,803 | 22,816 | 4.34% |
1922 | 566,358 | 17,555 | 3.20% |
1923 | 575,896 | 9,538 | 1.68% |
1924 | 597,861 | 21,965 | 3.81% |
1925 | 613,572 | 15,711 | 2.63% |
1926 | 623,909 | 10,337 | 1.68% |
1927 | 644,745 | 20,836 | 3.34% |
1928 | 655,686 | 10,941 | 1.70% |
1929 | 663,652 | 7,966 | 1.21% |
1930 | 670,017 | 6,365 | 0.96% |
1931 | 688,435 | 18,418 | 2.75% |
1932 | 703,949 | 15,514 | 2.25% |
1933 | 717,619 | 13,670 | 1.94% |
1934 | 730,738 | 13,119 | 1.83% |
1935 | 746,384 | 15,646 | 2.14% |
1936 | 760,690 | 14,306 | 1.92% |
1937 | 767,752 | 7,062 | 0.93% |
1938 | 784,764 | 17,012 | 2.22% |
1939 | 803,528 | 18,764 | 2.39% |
1940 | 862,664 | 59,136 | 7.36% |
1941 | 892,080 | 29,416 | 3.41% |
1942 | 917,715 | 25,635 | 2.87% |
1943 | 937,050 | 19,335 | 2.11% |
1944 | 954,004 | 16,954 | 1.81% |
1945 | 979,454 | 25,450 | 2.67% |
1946 | 996,505 | 17,051 | 1.74% |
1947 | 1,016,170 | 19,665 | 1.97% |
1948 | 1,041,970 | 25,800 | 2.54% |
1949 | 1,078,671 | 36,701 | 3.52% |
1950 | 1,111,314 | 32,643 | 3.03% |
1951 | 1,147,157 | 35,843 | 3.23% |
1952 | 1,189,053 | 41,896 | 3.65% |
1953 | 1,246,362 | 57,309 | 4.82% |
1954 | 1,302,240 | 55,878 | 4.48% |
1955 | 1,357,274 | 55,034 | 4.23% |
1956 | 1,416,731 | 59,457 | 4.38% |
1957 | 1,488,314 | 71,583 | 5.05% |
1958 | 1,555,799 | 67,485 | 4.53% |
1959 | 1,616,088 | 60,289 | 3.88% |
1960 | 1,693,180 | 77,092 | 4.77% |
1961 | 1,823,661 | 130,481 | 7.71% |
1962 | 1,965,786 | 142,125 | 7.79% |
1963 | 2,117,451 | 151,665 | 7.72% |
1964 | 2,234,916 | 117,465 | 5.55% |
1965 | 2,395,932 | 161,016 | 7.20% |
1966 | 2,480,899 | 84,967 | 3.55% |
1967 | 2,614,340 | 133,441 | 5.38% |
1968 | 2,684,073 | 69,733 | 2.67% |
1969 | 2,807,456 | 123,383 | 4.60% |
1970 | 2,930,810 | 123,354 | 4.39% |
1971 | 3,090,953 | 160,143 | 5.46% |
1972 | 3,218,908 | 127,955 | 4.14% |
1973 | 3,306,658 | 87,750 | 2.73% |
1974 | 3,409,987 | 103,329 | 3.12% |
1975 | 3,572,202 | 162,215 | 4.76% |
1976 | 3,742,749 | 170,547 | 4.77% |
1977 | 3,969,220 | 226,471 | 6.05% |
1978 | 4,166,854 | 197,634 | 4.98% |
1979 | 4,404,121 | 237,267 | 5.69% |
1980 | 4,639,822 | 235,701 | 5.35% |
1981 | 4,920,449 | 280,627 | 6.05% |
1982 | 5,162,619 | 242,170 | 4.92% |
1983 | 5,351,724 | 189,105 | 3.66% |
1984 | 5,641,054 | 289,330 | 5.41% |
1985 | 5,919,483 | 278,429 | 4.94% |
1986 | 6,166,974 | 247,491 | 4.18% |
1987 | 6,394,314 | 227,340 | 3.69% |
1988 | 6,721,210 | 326,896 | 5.11% |
1989 | 7,308,444 | 587,234 | 8.74% |
1990 | 7,761,179 | 452,735 | 6.19% |
1991 | 8,089,848 | 328,669 | 4.23% |
1992 | 8,404,087 | 314,239 | 3.88% |
1993 | 8,689,168 | 285,081 | 3.39% |
1994 | 9,024,368 | 335,200 | 3.86% |
1995 | 9,338,859 | 314,491 | 3.48% |
1996 | 9,692,441 | 353,582 | 3.79% |
1997 | 10,071,783 | 379,342 | 3.91% |
1998 | 10,354,241 | 282,458 | 2.80% |
1999 | 10,752,986 | 398,745 | 3.85% |
2000 | 11,068,861 | 315,875 | 2.94% |
2001 | 11,394,522 | 325,661 | 2.94% |
2002 | 11,721,548 | 327,026 | 2.87% |
2003 | 11,985,254 | 263,706 | 2.25% |
2004 | 12,275,822 | 290,568 | 2.42% |
2005 | 12,560,869 | 285,047 | 2.32% |
2006 | 12,868,606 | 307,737 | 2.45% |
2007 | 13,193,999 | 325,393 | 2.53% |
2008 | 13,508,509 | 314,510 | 2.38% |
2009 | 13,824,854 | 316,345 | 2.34% |
2010 | 14,131,467 | 306,613 | 2.22% |
2011 | 14,441,346 | 309,879 | 2.19% |
2012 | 14,782,473 | 341,127 | 2.31% |
2013 | 15,082,028 | 299,555 | 2.03% |
2014 | 15,372,337[1] | 290,309 | 1.92% |
2015 | 15,634,199[5] | 261,862 | 1.70% |
See also
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
References
- 1 2 "2015 Statistical Report for April 2016 General Conference", Mormon Newsroom, April 2, 2016.
- ↑ "LDS Church Growth Slows to Its Lowest Level Since 1937, But Here's the Good News in That".
- ↑ http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpop.html
- ↑ http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/worldpop/table_population.php
- ↑ "LDS Church membership grows to 15.6 million people". April 2, 2016.
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